Improvement in rowlocks



J. M. WHEELER.

Rowlock.

No. 206,757. Patented Aug. 6,1878.

mmnssns: Qr /u% M ATTORNEYS- -PETERS, PHOTD-LFIHOGRAPHER, wnsumerou rUNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. WHEELER, 0F FISHS EDDY, NEW YORK.

lM PROVEMENT lN ROWLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,757, dated August6, 1878; application filed July 18, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. WHEELER, of Fishs Eddy, in the county ofDelaware and State of New York, have invented a new andusefulImprovement in Rowloeks, of which the following is aspecification:

My invention relates to rowloeks for boats, and its object is to furnisha simple and durable' device which will work easily, and permit the carto be connected or detached with great facility.

My invention consists of a ball upon the ear, working in clamps orsockets fitted upon the gunwale of the boat, which sockets are allowedan axial motion of their shanks, so that the oar may have the properhorizontal and vertical movements required for rowing, and the ear mayalso be feathered. The sockets which clasp the ball are pivoted, andwhen raised vertically in the sleeve that supports their shank maybespread apart to connect or remove the oar. I also provide a slidingcounterpoise on the handle of the oar.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved rowloek withan ear connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same,partiallyin section; and Fig.3 is an elevation of the sockets andsupporting-sleeve detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

a is an oar of any usual shape or size. The handle end of the oar a isprovided with the counterpoise b, of wood or metal, sliding upon thehandle, and which may be removed to permit the ball 0 to be slid to itsposition on the handle. The ball 0 is provided with a hole, q, throughits axis in one direction, through which hole the handle of the oar ispassed, and the ball 0 should fit tightly.

d is a pin passing through the ball 0 and oar a, at right angles to theear, and projecting a short distance outside the ball 0 at each end. Theball 0 should be upon the oar a in such position that the pin at willpass in the opposite direction, or at right angles to the spread of theoar-blade.

c is a plate, which is to be permanently attached to the gunwale of theboat by screws put through the holes f in plate 0. g is a short tube orsleeve, connected vertically upon the plate 6, or formed in one piecewith it. h is a tube placed inside of the sleeve 9, and fitting looselytherein. The lower end of the tube h projects beyond the sleeve g, andis provided with a nut, i, and the upper end of h has a flange, p, whichrests on the sleeve g. This construction prevents vertical motion of hin g, and secures them together.

k k are the sockets or clamps for the ball 0. Each of these clamps k hasshanks I, which are pivoted together at m, to permit the sockets toswing apart, and the shanks lpass into the tube h, so as to slidevertically therein. a is a pin passing through the lower end of one ofthe shanks I, and projecting at each side thereof into vertical slots 0in the tube 71. (See Fig. 3.) The pin a limits the vertical motionupward of the sockets 7:, to prevent the separation of the shanks l andtube 72, and also causes I and h to turn together when the sockets areturned axially of their shanks I by the oar.

To spread the clamps it apart, they are raised vertically to draw theshanks l from the tube h as far as the pin a will permit, and thesockets may then be separated, as seen by dotted lines in Fig. 2, theball 0 inserted, and the sockets permitted to drop and clasp the ball.The projecting ends of the pin (1 pass into holes in sockets 7:, whenthey close. The sockets cannot separate, except when raised, asdescribed, as the hinged shanks I are held together by the tube It.

It will be seen that there is a space between the two sockets or clampsit when closed, which permits the oar to pass between them, and theturning of the ball in its socket, when the oar is moved vertically, isallowed by the pin 11. The horizontal motions of the oar are permittedby the tube h turning in its sleeve g.

If it is desired to feather the oar when rowing against the wind, thepin (1 should be removed, and the ball and sockets then form a universaljoint, which permits the oar to be feathered on the back stroke.

I do not limit myself to the details of construction set forth, as theymay be varied without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Pat- 3. The sleeve 9, tube h, shanks l, and sockentets is,combined and arranged substantially as l. The swinging sockets or clamps7:, supand for the purposes set forth. ported in the sleeve g,substantially as de- 4 scribed, in combination with the ball 0 uponJAMES MADISON WHEELER the oar, substantially as set forth. Witnesses:

2. The adjustable counterpoise b, in combi- EDMUND FISH,

nation with the our, substantially as set forth. N. D. LA VALLEY.

